If you are looking for some fun on a budget, we have compiled a list of national retailers with hands-on workshops, classes, and free in-store events for this weekend and more that are coming soon.
Share this fun, money-saving list with your friends and family. If you know of any other free weekend events to include, please let us know! It’s always best to call ahead to be sure that your local store is participating to avoid disappointment.
Saturday, June 17th at 11 AM
Join in the fun for story time and activities featuring When Dads Don’t Grow Up. Contact your local Barnes & Noble store to verify participation.
RELATED: Kids in grades 1-6 can earn a free book this summer when they enroll in the free Summer Reading Program at Barnes & Noble.
Saturday, June 17th and Sunday, June 18th
Join the fishing movement and attend the Gone Fishing Store Event Weekend. Enjoy free photos, a free catch & release pond, (FIRST 100 Kids to participate will get a Gone Fishing Door Hanger), attend free fishing and more. Check your local store listings for times and verify they are participating.
Saturday, June 17th at 10:15
Learn to play the Ukulele – the Workshops Series offers free workshops, online classes or in-store lessons taught by experts that will help you learn and have more fun while you do it yourself. Contact your local Guitar Center store for more information.
Home Depot Do It Yourself Workshops
Saturday, June 17th from 10 – 11:30 AM
Edible & Raised Garden Beds
Learn to build a raised garden bed. Get information about the many varieties of edible plants that can thrive in your space and select plants that work for your climate and tastes. Then you’ll be introduced to products and tools that make caring for your garden efficient and will help your garden produce a harvest of fresh veggies and herbs.
Get more information at Home Depot Workshops.
Saturday, June 17th from 11 AM – 3 PM and a few locations offer crafts on Sunday.
Kids ages 3 and up design and take a craft stick card for Dad. No reservations necessary. Get more information from Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids.
Saturday, June 170th from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Kids Club® – Kids 3 and up can make a Father’s Day frame. The cost is $2 and the rest of the supplies are included. Sign up in store, online or just drop in. Parent or guardian must remain on premises.
Sunday, June 17th from 1 – 3 PM
Paint Splatter Canvas – join in the fun in the classroom to customize your own paint splatter canvas. Buy the canvas and the rest of the supplies are free.
Summer Activities for Kids:
Apple Camp – these are free 3-day workshops held at your Apple Store where kids ages 8-12 learn now to make movies, draw, make music and more! These free workshops fill up fast every year. Check your Apple Store website for sign-up and times.
Disney Stores – Summer Play Days
June 10th – August 9th
Events take place every day at 3 PM all summer long! Participate in an event each week and receive a FREE embroidered patch. *Select stores only. Contact your local store for details.
Kids Bowl Free – Kids Bowl Free offers kids the chance to get 2 free games of bowling each day, all Summer long – over a $500 value per child. Select your state, click your bowling center and complete the registration page (registration may not be open for each center, so check back if your location isn’t open yet). Be sure to check the box at the bottom of the form that says ‘Yes, send me my coupons weekly via email!’. You’ll then receive emails when your coupons are ready, each Sunday for as long as the program runs.
Kids (Roller) Skate Free – sign up for each of your children to receive 2 free Skating Passes a week for kids ages 12 & under.
Free Microsoft YouthSpark Summer Camp Programs
Michael’s Camp Creativity
Kids ages 3 and up can enjoy seven weeks of arts and crafts during June and July. Get more information at Michael’s.
More to Explore Throughout the Year:
Bank of America Museums on Us
Saturday, July 1st and Sunday, July 2nd
Bank of America’s Museums on Us is offering free admission to more than 150 museums nationwide. Simply present your Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card along with a photo ID to gain free general admission to any participating institution. Cardholders only; guests are not eligible for free admission.
FREE National Park Admission Dates for 2017
Here is a list of participating national parks.
- August 25: National Park Service Birthday
- September 30: National Public Lands Day
- November 11-12: Veterans Day Weekend
More Free Museum Dates
This site, www.freemuseumday.org, tracks free museum days in the following cities: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area, and the Seattle Area.
Free National Parks Pass for 4th Graders
If you have a child in 4th grade this year, your family can get a free National Parks Annual Pass to give you free entry into national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and more! Teachers of 4th graders can also get passes to plan free National Park field trips. This expires on 8/31 so don’t delay!
Apple Store
Free workshops – learn the basic of Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod. Learn how to create slideshows with iPhoto. Edit home movies with iMovie and more! Find your local store and make a reservation for a free workshop here.
Factory Tours
Find factory tours all across the USA, go here, The site has 570 tours and counting! Many are free but some may have an admission fee. (Thanks to the Happy Housewife for sharing this!)
Flying Lessons
Young Eagles – Kids ages 8 to 17 experience aviation and get free rides in private aircraft flown by experienced pilots.
Home and Garden Shows
If you like Home and Garden shows, this site will give you a free pass. Check the ACS Home Show site.
Saturday, July 1 10th from 10 AM to 11:30 AM
Jazzercise
Jazzercise is currently offering FREE dance fitness classes to girls ages 16-21 at participating locations. No strings attached! Contact your local Jazzercise to see if this offer is available in your area. Valid throughout 2017.
Lego Stores Free Model Build
LEGO Monthly Mini Model Build events are typically held monthly where kids ages 6-14 can build a Free LEGO Platypus Mini Model! Be sure to click on the “Open Form” button to register. You must be a LEGO VIP Loyalty Member and use an email address saved in your LEGO VIP Membership account to register. Membership and registration are free. Get more information here: shop.LEGO.com/VIP. Quantities are limited to approximately 120 per store per night and time.
Major League Baseball Clinics
Through the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, kids can attend a free baseball clinic in many locations across the country. The free program is called Free Legends for Youth Kids Clinics.
Microsoft High Tech DigiCamp for Girls (free)
Microsoft is proud to offer technology programs specifically for youth. Find out more information here.
Pick Your Own Fruits and Vegetables
Find orchards and farms near you where you can pick your own fruits and vegetables at PickYourOwn.org and at LocalHarvest.org.
Pottery Barn Kids
Enjoy story time on Tuesdays from 11 – 11:30 AM. For more information, visit Pottery Barn Kids events here.
Playground Finder
If you find yourself in a new location and are looking for a playground, use the free KaBoom Map of Play, playground finder and just type your location into the search bar.
Find Pumpkin Patches, Hay Rides, Pick Your Own Orchards and Haunted Houses. Many of these will have a fee or admission. Enter your location for details.
REI Running Classes
Learn or get back into running with training and techniques classes. Find our more at REI.com.
SKI Passport for 5th Graders
Go to www.5thgradeskipassport.com to get a free pass in Idaho or the Pacific Northwest. For other areas, search for your state with the words “5th-grade ski pass + your state”, or the name of your local ski resort.
Target – Free Community Events
Target is also sponsoring FREE community events ranging from free museum admission, free theater tickets, family activities and tours at some of our countries most famous venues. Times and locations vary by city. Find free family activities sponsored by Target in your area right here.
Saturday, June 25th from 1-3 PM
Join the fun including a hula-hoop contest, R/C car racing contest, Karaoke party and more! Get the details from Toys R Us.
Enjoy free cooking classes for adults, typically held on Sundays. Contact your local Williams-Sonoma store for times.
Enjoy free Jr. Chef cooking classes for kids ages 8-13 Get more info from Williams-Sonoma Jr. Chefs.
Celebrate Crazy and Fun Holidays
Make memories and celebrate fun holidays with your family. This week you can celebrate Ice Cream Soda Day, Go Fishing Day, Flip Flop Day, and more. See more at Days of the Year.
* For more ideas for family fun, be sure and check Groupon, and LivingSocial in your area. Join each site for free and start having more fun on a budget! These vouchers make great gifts too!
For inexpensive and sometimes free tickets to local events, I am a fan of Goldstar tickets. Watch your emails for the heading “Comp Train” from Goldstar. If you are new, you can set up a free account here.
Be sure and check out your local library and parks and recreation departments for free programs and events right in your hometown!
Free Weekend Events All Across the USA first appeared on More With Less Today.
#funonabudget
or more ideas for family fun, be sure and check Groupon, Amazon Local and LivingSocial in your area. Join each site for free and start having more fun, for less! These vouchers make great gifts too!
Wow – so many free events! Very timely. Thanks for sharing! 🙂